HIMLA: Reports of a "volcano-like eruption" in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh has triggered panic among the people of the area.

Flames and a hot liquid stream were seen spewing out of a hill 100 m from Gadiyada village. The village is over 200 km from Shimla.

After a report by the state geologists confirmed the eruption as 'small magmatic activity', a team of Geological Survey of India (GSI) reached the site on Thursday. This is the first time such a volcanic activity has been witnessed in the state.

Fearing that a bigger eruption could damage their agricultural land and houses, residents of around half a dozen villages in the vicinity of the eruption are anxiously awaiting the final report of GSI team.

"Gases and liquids are being emitted from holes in a 10 feet area around the hill where the volcanic activity took place," said Ved Prakash, president of Drang panchayat. He said the eruption, unheard of in this area, caused panic among villagers.

Unmindful of the threat of more volcanic activity the site has turned into a tourist spot with hundreds of people from surrounding areas heading there to see the phenomenon. To prevent anything untoward the district administration has decided to fence off the entire area and deploy security guards.

He said the flames and the hot liquid emanating from the hill had created panic. "Underground temperature in the area has increased manifold and people say that a steel electricity pole had become red hot a couple of days back," he added. Pal said a sulphur-like material and black stone is flowing out from the perimeter of the hill.

Palampur SDM Bhupender Attri said a team of geologists from state had confirmed small scale magmatic activity in the area.

As chances of this activity escalating in coming days cannot be ruled out, a GSI team has been called to study the area and check the strata. "Flames were witnessed so possibility of reoccurrence cannot be ruled out. Now we are waiting for the final report from GSI team," he added.

Former state geologist Arun Sharma said occurrence of such a volcanic eruption has been reported for the first time in Himachal Pradesh but the presence of magmatic substance is not new to the state. He said that existence of hot sulphur springs at Manikaran, Kalath, Tattapni and Vashishth confirms that magmatic material is present underneath these springs.

'Unheard of in this area' - Volcano-like eruption in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh triggers panic

A "volcano-like eruption" in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh triggered panic among the people of the area. Reports said that flames and a hot liquid stream were seen spewing out of a hill 100 m from Gadiyada village. The village is over 200 km from Shimla. State geologists confirmed that the eruption is a 'small magmatic activity'. After the report, a team of Geological Survey of India (GSI) reached the site on Thursday.

Fearing that a bigger eruption could damage their agricultural land and houses, residents of around half a dozen villages in the vicinity of the eruption are anxiously awaiting the final report of GSI team. "Gases and liquids are being emitted from holes in a 10 feet area around the hill where the volcanic activity took place," said Ved Prakash, president of Drang panchayat. He said the eruption, unheard of in this area, caused panic among villagers.

This is the first time such a volcanic activity has been witnessed in the state. Chief parliamentary secretary Jagjivan Pal in whose Sulah assembly constituency the area falls visited the spot on Tuesday. He said the flames and the hot liquid emanating from the hill had created panic. "Underground temperature in the area has increased manifold and people say that a steel electricity pole had become red hot a couple of days back," he added. Pal said a sulphur-like material and black stone is flowing out from the perimeter of the hill. ,,,

I am that Ravana who became infuriated for a certain reason took up a duel with Kubera, his brother from a stepparent, wherein that Kubera was completely trounced. I am that Ravana by whom Kubera, the god for Wealth-Management, was tormented fearfully and made to completely abandon his wealthiest place, and I am the one who made that Kubera to flee to the Mt. Kailash where he is somehow living, because I will not cause any harm on Mt. Kailash as I hold it sacred.http://ramayanam-atwistedversion.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/128-ravana-tempts-seetha-with-goodies.html

Kubera (Kuvera, Kuber) is the Lord of Wealth and the god-king of the semi-divine Yakshas in Hindu mythology. He is regarded as the regent of the North (Dik-pala), and a protector of the world (Lokapala). His many epithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species and the owner of the treasures of the world. Kubera is often depicted as a fat man, adorned with jewels and carrying a money-pot or money-bag, and a club.

Originally described as the chief of evil spirits in Vedic-era texts, Kubera acquired the status of a Deva (god) only in the Puranas and the Hindu epics. The scriptures describe that Kubera once ruled Lanka, but was overthrown by his demon stepbrother Ravana, later settling in the city of Alaka in the Himalayas. Descriptions of the "glory" and "splendours" of Kubera's city are found in many scriptures.----In Hinduism, Alaka , which is also sometimes called Alakapuri, is a mythical city. It is the home of Kubera, the king of Yakshas and the lord of wealth, and his attendants called yakshas.The Mahabharata mentions this city as the capital of the Yaksha Kingdom.

Ravananugraha or Ravananugraha-murti is a benevolent aspect ofthe Hindu god Shiva , depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailashwith his consort Parvati , while the rakshasa/demon king Ravana tries to shake it.

The depiction is labelled variously as Ravana Lifting Mount Kailash or RavanaShaking Mount Kailash. According to Hindu scriptures , Ravana once tried to liftMount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousandyears, the imprisoned Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him aninvincible sword or a powerful linga to worship.

The Uttara Kanda of the Hindu epic Ramayana records: theten-headed, twenty-armed mighty King Ravana defeated and looted Alaka– thecity of his step-brother and god of wealth Kubera , situated near Mount Kailash.After the victory, Ravana was returning to Lanka in the Pushpaka Vimana(the flyingchariot stolen from Kubera), when he spotted a beautiful place. However, the chariot could not fly over it.Ravana met Shiva's bull-faced dwarf attendant Nandi (Nandisha, Nandikeshvara)at this place and asked the reason behind his chariot's inability to pass over the place. Nandi informedRavana that his lord Shiva and Parvati were enjoying dalliance on the mountain and no one was allowedto pass. Ravana mocked Shiva and Nandi. Enraged by the insult to his lord, Nandi cursed Ravana thatmonkeys would destroy him. In turn, Ravana decided to uproot the mountain Kailash, infuriated byNandi's curse and his inability to proceed further. He put all his twenty arms under Kailash and startedlifting it. As Kailash began to shake, a terrified Parvati embraced Shiva. However, the omniscient Shivarealized that Ravana was behind the menace and pressed the mountain into place with his big toe,trapping Ravana beneath it. Ravana gave a loud cry in pain. Advised by his ministers, Ravana sanghymns in praise of Shiva for a thousand years. Finally, Shiva not only forgave Ravana but also grantedhim an invincible sword. Since Ravana cried, he was given the name "Ravana" – one who cried.

The death toll from landslides and flooding triggered by torrential monsoon rains in Nepal and northern India climbed to at least 109 Saturday as tides of water, mud and rocks swept away houses, officials said.

The rains in Nepal over the past three days have killed 85 people and left more than 100 others unaccounted for, said national disaster management chief Yadav Prasad Koirala.

"We have recovered 85 bodies so far, 54 people have suffered injuries due to landslides and flooding over the last three days and 113 are still missing," Koirala told AFP.

The rains have damaged roads across the country's western plains bordering India, with poor visibility hindering helicopter rescue efforts to evacuate some 1,500 people stranded in waterlogged homes, said home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal.

"Because of the damage to roads in the area, we can only deliver relief supplies like tents and medicines by helicopter," Dhakal told AFP.

Army officials rescued some 300 people Saturday, while hundreds more awaited help in the worst-hit districts of Surkhet and Bardiya, where electricity lines snapped, leaving thousands without power.

"We have had no power all day and we are struggling to reach affected people," said Bardiya district official Tej Prasad Paudel.